Rolling into a Round Hole vs Square Peg

While working on the water safety post I got to thinking about an activity kidlets could do to help them learn to differentiate between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional objects—between circles and spheres and squares and cubes–one, where they may discover how a square peg won’t fit in a round hole!

There are a few skills children need before they can recognize, let alone name shapes.
1. Visual Perception: Visual perception allows children to ‘see’ differences between objects. Typically this is just matter of time/maturity and practice; however, there are developmental optometrists available for vision therapy if needed.
2. Hands-On Manipulation: Manipulating shapes will help kiddos integrate and internalize the characteristics of those objects and lays the foundation understanding math concepts.
3. Language: Give your kidlets ample opportunities to practice describing shapes—in this way they’ll have more chance to learn –to accommodate this new knowledge—of knowing the names of shapes and how they’re different.

READ: Circles and Squares Everywhere! By Max Grover This book was poorly reviewed by several professional organizations (“…Concept books must be accurate.”) I guess I don’t consider this solely a concept book. Yes, it highlights circles and squares showing that they pop up in different places. But when I read the book to preschool kidlets and came to a page like “Tires and Cars and Trucks and Roads” I didn’t present it as ALL of those objects had circles; I let the kidlets look at the page and asked, “Where do you see circles?” The text served more as a prompt…maybe I’m a little more easy-going than most (?!!)

•If your kiddo doesn’t notice the straight lines and pointed corners, highlight those characteristics and compare it to the ball’s smooth, rounded surface.

•Just like your child has a name, but is a girl (or boy), the ball is a name for a shape called a SPHERE and block is a name for a shape called a CUBE.

•Let your kidlet handle and explore these items as you emphasize some of the characteristics of the shapes.——————————– Cubes have 6 ‘faces’ of squares———————————--each face has sides of equal lengths———————————Spheres are perfectly symmetrical around its center———————————--all points on a sphere’s surface are the same distance from the center

Bring out the circles and square shapes.
Ask:How are these alike?
(Some examples: They’re both shapes; Some have the same color; Some are big/little)How are these different?
(Some examples: Some have straight lines, some have curved or rounded lines; Some have points, some don’t; Some are big and some are little)

Now, bring out the nested blocks—spread them out, with the open side down.
Ask: How are these the same as the squares?
(Some examples: They both have straight lines; They both have corners; They both have leg lengths that are equal)
Take it further—WHAT COULD THE CUBES DO THAT THE SQUARES COULDN’T?

Do the same with the circles and Fisher –Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups.

I’d LOVE to hear what your kidlets have to say on what makes a 3D shape different from a 2D shape.

•Bring out the circles and square shapes.

Ask:“How are these alike?”
(Some examples: They’re both shapes; Some have the same color; Some are big/little)

“How are these different?”
(Some examples: Some have straight lines, some have curved or rounded lines; Some have points, some don’t; Some are big and some are little)

• Set aside the circles
• Now, bring out the nested blocks—spread them out, with the open side down

Ask:“How are these the same as the squares?”
(Some examples: They both have straight lines; They both have corners; They both have leg lengths that are equal)
•Take it further—WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH THE CUBES THAT YOU COULDN’T WITH THE SQUARES?”

Here’s a hint of one thing that can be done…

Do the same with the circles and Fisher –Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups.

I’d LOVE to hear what your kidlets have to say on what makes a 3D shape different from a 2D shape.

Do the same with the circles and Fisher –Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups.

I’d LOVE to hear what your kidlets have to say on what makes a 3D shape different from a 2D shape…share their thoughts below!